Three Generations episode 20
THREE GENERATIONS
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
CHAPTER 20
Obi came home a week to Christmas bearing gifts. He came home with more than enough foodstuff for the period. Ogo and Chioma came home with him to clean up the house. They hired some villagers to do the work while they supervised as they were big girls. It was quite impressive.
On the 24th, a Pajero SUV drove into the compound blasting its horn. Who came out of the vehicle? Isabella. She had arrived from abroad just in time for Christmas. She stepped out of the vehicle wearing a jeans dungarees and long-handed T-shirt. She wore a face cap. The compound gathered to see her.
Obi rushed out excitedly to receive his new love. He led her into his father’s house so he would introduce her to people that matter.
“Papa Mama, Adanne, meet Isabella, my love. Where is Nwakaego? I want her to mean Isabella”
His family members greeted her. Of course, they were not pleased with what they saw but none of them could say anything. They sent Chioma to call Nwakaego. Nwakaego they knew would manage the situation to their satisfaction. They waited patiently for her to come out.
Isabella had been told to win Nwakaego’s heart. Ogo told her she was a powerful influence in the family and whatever she says stands. Once she accepts Isabella then the family will. They told her she was a wealthy woman although humble. Once she can see Isabella loves Obi, the case will be over.
Nwakaego came out to answer her summon. It was surprising to her Obi wanted to see her and introduce her to someone. She had heard everything that happened but refused to get involved with it. First of all, Chinyere never apologized to her or even approached her for help with this issue and since Anozie died, she had seen her as an enemy. Why should she come out openly to fight for her? It was time they learnt their lessons the hærd way; Chinyere and Uloma. But, Obi was taking this too far. She went to see the girl Obi wouldn’t allow her rest because of.
“Meet my special sister-in-law. She has been an asset to this family. It is because of her we can raise our heads high in this village. Both of you have a lot in common; hærdworking and caring. Mama Nwanneka, meet Isabella”
Nwakaego and Isabella didn’t hear all Obi said. They were sizing each other up. Nwakaego knew Isabella was trouble just meeting her for the first time. Apart from her physical appearance which was majorly her dressing and bleached skin, she had a negative aura around her which Nwakaego could sense. She realized she couldn’t mind her business anymore otherwise she will lose both papa and mama at the same time.
Isabella didn’t like Nwakaego at first sight. She understood why Obi kept talking about her. She was a good looking woman with gorgeous curves which she tried to disguise tying wrapper. She also was confident, there was something about her which was alluring. She noticed how everyone looked up to her. She had control in this family without forcing it. Isabella had her plans and Nwakaego was going to be a threat. The best strategy was not to compete with her but buy her over to her side. Armed with this thought, she wore a smile. “It is an honour to meet you. Obim has said many wonderful things about you”
Nwakaego and every other person in the room except Obi and his daughters couldn’t hide their shock at her words. Obi that despised Nwakaego now talks so much about her? Nwakaego responded, “It is nice to meet you too. Unfortunately, I have heard nothing about you; especially from Nda Obi. Nda, please who is she?”
Obi wasn’t happy with Nwakaego’s response. He expected her to go with the flow. Truly he hadn’t said anything to her about Isabella but he knew she had heard what was going on. He was in a s₱0t right now and he had to get out of it. “Mama Nwanneka, this is my new wife Isabella. We haven’t had the chance to see and talk about her that is the reason I asked you to come back. I want her to learn how to be a good wife, mother and daughter-in-law from you”
Nwakaego looked from Isabella to Obi and back. Was he joking saying all these things? Did he believe she would support him in his quest to destroy his home which everyone knew Chinyere was the breadwinner? This wasn’t the time or the place for the real discussion so she replied to him saying, “She is welcome. Ogo, take her to your house so she can settle in. I have made soup and I will send some to here there. Isabella, you are welcome”
Isabella left with Ogo and Chioma. She felt something was wrong but Ogo and Chioma tried to convince her nothing was wrong. They made her believe she made a good impression with Nwakaego. They hoped their father will work on Nwakaego to accept Isabella. Only then would they be able to enjoy her full benefits. She had recently sent some girls abroad to work in factories. They were going to be very well paid. She promised to send them to homes of wealthy non-English speaking nationalities to be governesses to their daughters. She insisted she had to be a part of the family first before she could put up such investment as they couldn’t afford the cost of travelling and her payment. They were ready to do anything for her so they could travel abroad.
Obi turned to Nwakaego after Isabella left and said, “That’s the girl I want to marry o. I need your support”
“What happens to Chinyere?” Nwakaego asked which surprised Obi.
“She will still be my wife but Isabella will be the second wife”
“So, this is how you will pay back Chinyere for everything she did for you? What does she do?”
“Nwakaego, she is a big businesswoman. She treats me with respect and regard. I handle some of her businesses and she trusts me which is something Chinyere never did. She takes care of me and my children. What more do I want?”
“What of Chinyere? How does she feel about this?”
“It doesn’t matter how she feels, Isabella is my choice and I have a right to marry her. I intend to pay her dowry during the Easter celebration”
“If you want to marry her, go ahead. Who am I to say otherwise? I will advise you to look before you leap. She looks like a girl who has hustled in this life. If no one will tell you the truth, I will. I do not like the closeness of your daughters to her. It is either they are following in your footsteps or she has promised them something that is making them disloyal to their mother”
Adanne spoke up, “Nwakaego, you took the words right out of my mouth. What type of work does she do? She looks like an expired akwunna (pr-stitute). See her skin; badly bleached. Is she the one you chose over Chinyere? No wonder Chinyere felt insulted. Nna, you no try”
Obi was upset at this juncture. “She is my choice. She treats me well with love and respect. This is what my girls saw and they supported me. I am leaving Anozie’s house, I want to build a big house for us so we will be comfortable when we come home. Onyedika can have the wh0le house”
Adanne smiled while saying, “If you can gain that from marrying her, it will be nice. Since Onyedika doesn’t want Uloma back, Anozie’s family can move back in there with Onyedika. Tell her to build the house before the marriage o. Now that she is desperate and will settle for anything, it is better she fulfils her promises before she comes in fully, otherwise, she will show you her true colours. You are not smart otherwise I will have told you how to manage her”
Papa Anozie was upset, “Keep quiet! Why would you advise your brother to acquire wealth from a woman? Why can’t he make money for himself like other men? I don’t like this lady I am seeing too. Nwunye m, you haven’t said anything”
“What am I to say? Obi has made a choice; he should live with whatever comes with it. Chinyere was good to you. Although stubborn and quarrelsome, she stood by you and tolerated your nonsense. This girl won’t take your philandering o! If you dare cheat on her, she might just kill you. This is what I have observed for now. And also, why are Ogo and Chioma following her about? This lady will cause us a serious problem. Obi, take heed. Leave this girl alone and go back to Chinyere”
“The same Chinyere all of you chased out of this house because of what she did. When did you all develop a love for her? Even you Nwakaego, when did you start loving her?”
“I never hated her. I wasn’t involved in sending her away. She is your wife and we all know the impact she has had in your life. She overlooked your shortcomings and made a home with you. What you want to do is disloyal and dangerous. Our people say you don’t bite the fingers that fed you. Making this woman your wife will affect Chinyere. Anyway, I can only advise; I don’t have a say on this. Let your parents and siblings talk sense into you”
With that, Nwakaego put an end to the conversation. She decided to see Chinyere and find out how she wanted to resolve this issue. It was an embarrassing and shameful thing for a man to leave his wife for another woman talkless of someone like Isabella. It was obvious the money was the attraction as Chinyere was finer than Isabella even though she was younger and had never had a child. She knew how terrible women can be to their fellow women.
She was also worried about Onyedika agreeing to release Chigozie to his mother. Onyedika had been very busy and hadn’t seen his son in almost two months but she couldn’t tell Uloma that. She made her believe he sees him every other week and had warned her maids never to discuss Onyedika with Uloma.
Onyedika’s absence could also be as a result of fostering a new relationsh¡p. There was no way he could have been without Uloma for almost a year now and remain without a woman. Men weren’t built that way. She wondered if Uloma had the sense to go looking for her husband wherever he was. As long as she had laid with him before, she could sed-ce him to do it again and if possible get pregnant for the second child. Would he reject with her two children? It pained her she couldn’t make these suggestions to Uloma. Uloma always looked for an opportunity to be rude and advising her might trigger her.
Isabella and Nwakaego were civil with each other. Isabella tried to get close to Nwakaego but Nwakaego didn’t give her the opportunity. Nwanneka was worse. She was hostile to her. She refused to recognize her as Obi’s fiancé and generally ignored her like she didn’t exist. She didn’t like Chinyere either but of the two devils, Chinyere was way better. She could see what her mother was seeing.
Tbc